CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ..............

BORDEAUX - AS ROMA

Neither of these two have really been firing recently and both were left shell shocked by their opening group games, Bordeaux were comprehensively thumped 4-0 at Chelsea, a result which they have chosen to put down to bad nerves ! Roma lost at home to Cluj of Romania, that was a bad result and they played poorly, but many people are simply writing off Cluj and that is wrong, they are an improving team, with good players and a very rich owner. Having said that, Roma should never have lost.

Totti and Pizarro are both out for the visitors, but Roma's favourite son is always missing nowadays and it is no longer the major loss it once was, they have learned to win without him. I expect to see the real Roma side tonight, the CL final is being played in Rome and to not even make it out of the group stage in such a year, would be a disgrace, they have the double header with Chelsea up next, so have to get something from this. Hosts have not impressed, will have a second choice keeper, who has only played 9 times in five years, between the sticks and seem more interested in avoiding defeat, than trying to win, opting to flood the midfield.Vistors have never lost in seven visits to France and I am sure that will be eight after this evening's action.

5.5 points Roma level ball 1.89 asian line.

SHAKHTAR DONETSK - BARCELONA

Donetsk have a recent home win over Barce in the CL group stage, but that was in a match where the visitors had nothing to play for. With both sitting on three points at the top of the group this time round, we have very different circumstances. As discussed recently, Donetsk are growing ever stronger, they are likely to field a team with 5-6 Brazilians and a couple of (almost) world class europeans.

Barce are a great side, but are struggling to keep a clean sheet. Domestically, Shakhtar are finding it impossible to win with six draws fron nine starts, I think much of this has to do with giving the CL priority at present. A draw would not disappoint either too much, each having two far easier matches up next and at decent odds, that looks the best value.

4 points draw 3.85 exchanges.

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